Cell-case machine.



A. w. n. was & 1. STARMAN.

CELL CASE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1916.

2 SHFEYTS-SHEET I.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

A. W. D. WEIS & J. SIAHMAN. CELL CASE MACHINE. APPLICATION flLED SEPTIB.1915.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALWIN W. D. WEIS, 0F QUINCY ILLINOIS, AN D JOSEPH STARK-AN, OF RAPIDS,

. IOWA.

CELL-CASE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 8, 1916. Serial No. 119,012.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALWIN W. D. Wins and JOSEPH STARMAN, citizens ofthe United States, respectively residing at Quincy and Cedar Rapids, inthe counties of Adams and Linn and States of Illinois and Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cell-Case Machines; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cell-case machines, and vmore particularlythat type of such machines which automatically punches, cuts oif andassembles the strips of paper commonly known as filler strips in theformation of eggcase fillers used for the packing and shipment of eggs.

The main object of this invention is to improve the assembling mechanismso as to facilitate the transference of the punched and severed strips,successively, to the stripcarriers, the improvement being of such anature as to admit of a continuous movement of the carriers and of thestrip-conveyers, whereby the highest speed may be attained in the typeof machine herein represented, together with great accuracy in theplacing of the strips.

The invention, which 'will be-hereinafter fully set forth and claimed,is herein shown as applied to a cell-case machine for which LettersPatent were issued to Alwin W. D. Weis, on the 15th of April, 1913, No.1,059,325 to which reference'may be had for the more specific details ofconstruction. With the exception of the strip-feeding mechanism, whichforms the subject matter of this invention, the machines may be regardedas practically identical.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a mid-section of the main operative parts of themachine as a whole, with the strip-feed mechanism as in use. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, enlarged, showing in clearer detail the feed apparatus atone side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates the main frame of themachine, on which is mounted at opposite sides paperfeed rolls 2 andcutting and punching mechanism 3, the latter operated by eccentrics 4have a continuous forward movement. high rate of reciprocating speed maybe.

on cross-shafts 5. Between these opposite mechanisms is mounted astrip-carrier, comprising a series offorms ,6 provided with elasticforked fingers 7 into which the severed strips are thrust successively.The carrlers, after being filled with one set of parallel strips, aregiven a quarter turn successively, when they present, on theoppositeside of the machine, transversely arranged fingers, to receive thestrips from that side, and to guide them accurately into engagement withthe first series of strips. The machine also contains mechanism forejecting the completed filler, and other details not essential to anunderstanding of this invention. Suitable mechanism is, provided forimparting the appropriate movements to these devices, and the same isillustrated and described in the patent above referred to, but is notdeemed essential herein. The revoluble carrier forms, as will be seen,are mounted on a sprocket-chain 8 carried by sprockets 9. It is verydesirable that the strip-carrier:

given to the punching and cutting devices, but owing to thelr size andmass, as well as special movement, it is impossible to operate thecarriers, ste -bystep, at more than 2. limited speed, wit accuracy, andwithout too great vibration. So also it is desirable to transfer the cutstrips to the carriers by mechanism having a similar forward movement.for though this mechanism is much lighter than the carrier, andtherefore capable of relatively higher speed of movement,

reciprocating action is here limited by the greater travel of thestrips. This invention therefore aims at the highest elliciency in themachine by providing a, strip-feed moving continuously forward, incooperation with strip-carriers moving likewise.

In Fig. 1 the right side of the figure represents the initial eedingoperation, left side the final operation. Between these operations (atthe top of the machine, not shown), the carrier forms are successivelygiven a uarter turn, as above. mentioned.

Imme iately in front of the cuttingand punching mechanism is mounted adouble gang of feed-rolls 10. These are arranged in separated order. asshown in Fig. 3, on shafts 11 suitably journaled in frames 12 secured tothe punch-head frames. These attached frames are T-shaped as shown,

and the edges of the cut strips.

and at their inner ends carry shafts 13, with gangs of separatedsprockets M'thereon. These aline with sprockets 15 on the lower of theshafts 11. On these sprockets are mounted chains 16'provided w1thregularly spaced spurs 17 adapted to engage the rear Adjacent to thechains are pairs of guide-fingers 18, spaced apart enough to allow thestrlps to -sl1de between them, but keeplng the strips accurately inposition so as to be carried forward by the spurs of thesprocket-chalns. These guidefingers extend from close to the cut-off, tonear the lips of the strlp-holding fingers of the carrier forms, asshown in Fig. 2. The guide fingers are secured to bridge-bars 19attached to the T-frames.

-Continuous forward motion is imparted to the chains by drive-chains 20trained over sprockets 21 and 22. The latter sprockets are driven bychains 23 from sprockets 24 on the cross-shafts 5. As hereinrepresented, these shafts rotate in opposite dlrectlons, and thus causea corresponding movement of the feed-chains, on the upper portlons ofwhich the strips are carried.

It will be noted that the strip-feed-rolls are partial or mutilatedrolls, about half of the periphery of each being cut away. The rollstherefore can feed thestrips only while the full faces are opposed. Whenin the other position there is of course a space between them, intowhich space the strip blank is thrust by the initial paper feed beforeit is out off from the main sheet. This cutting should slightly precedethe feeding action of these mutilated, intermittent rolls, the stripbeing held for the instant by the guide fingers. The intermittent rollscarry the strip forward and deposit it just above the chalns, where itis caught by the spurs 17 and carried forward and thrust between thefingers of the carriers; The movement of the feed chains is made alittle more rapid than the perpendicular. movement of the carriers, sothat this thrust may be sufficient to carry the strip .well into thefingers while they are crossing the path of the strip feed.

' The stripsare seated by means of beaters,

which will now be described.

In brackets 25 are journaled rock-shafts 26, each carryin a gang oflevers 27 terminating in for ed blades 28 adapted to straddle the feedchains. The rock-shafts are each actuated by a bell-crank 29, to whichreciprocating motion is given by an eccentric at the end of the shaft13, through the medium of the strap and connecting rod'30. The swing ofthe gang beaters is so timed that the stri may pass under the lower endsof the forl s to reach the carrier fingers, but immediately on enteringthem the forks follow the rear edge ofthe strip, and at the end of theirswing force the strip home. It will be evident from the construction ofthe beater, a long driving arm and a short actuating arm, that themovement of the beater is relatively even quicker than the movement ofthe feed chains, bein actually a blow,-when working at high s'pee andthis smart blow sends the strip for- These forked beaters are therefore,in practice, adjusted so as to drive the strips far enough forward tocompletely clear the points of the conveyer spurs or flights, andthusprevent any catching and dragging of the strips by said spurs, andthis is practically the main purpose of the forked beaters. For thecomplete interlocking of the strips another beater is employed, and maybe designated as the interlocking beater. This is shown at the left ofFig. 1. It comprises a rock-shaft 31 in bearings 32 and carrying arms 33provided with a flat beaterplate 34. The bail so formed is retracted bya spring-35, and driven forward by a cam 36 on the cross-shaft 37. Thisbeater also delivers a rather sharp stroke, and serves to drive home theentire filler, by successive blows, not only interlocking the lastseries of strips with the first, but bottoming and leveling the whole.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the whole movement of thesevered strip, both in the transferring feed and while in the carrier,is a continuous forward-movement, except only the final impulses givenby the beaters and the interlocker. These movements are very short, andrequire merely a light blow which is delivered by oscillating mechanismso li ht in weight as to be capable of very rapi action withoutinjurious vibration. The effect of the construction, as compared with awholly intermittent strip-feed, is to very greatly increase the speedand productiveness of the machine.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a cell-case machine, combined with a continuously forward-movinggang of strip-carriers, a continuously moving stripconveyer adapted tocarry the strip from the point of cut-01f and thrust it in the carrier,the conveying and thrusting movement of the strip-conveyer beingtransverse, and its turning movement being coincident with the movementof the strip-carrier.

2. In a cell-case machine, combined with a continuously forward movinggang of strip-carriers, a continuously moving stripconveyer adapted toadvance the strip and thrust it in the carrier, and an intermittentstrip-feed adapted to deliver to said conveyer the strip as severed fromthe parent sheet, the conveying and thrusting movement of thestrip-conveyer being transverse, and its turning movement beingcoincident with the movement of the strip-carrier.

3. In a cell-case machine, the combination of a strip-carrier havingcontinuous movement, ascending on one side and descending on theopposite side of the machine, continuously moving strip-conveyersadapted to thrust the severed strips into said stripcarrier, and meansadapted to guide the strips as so conveyed, the conveying and thrustingmovement of the strip-conveyer being transverse, and its turningmovement being coincident With the movement of the strip-carrier.

4. In a cell-case machine, the combination with an endless-chain gang ofstrip-carriers, of an endless chain strip-conveyer provided withstrip-engaging spurs, and adapted to thrust the strips into saidstrip-carriers, the conveying and thrusting movement of thestrip-conveyer being transverse, and its turning movement beingcoincident with the movement of the strip-carrier.

5. In a cell-case machine, the combination with an endless chain gang ofstrip carriers, ascending on one side and descending on the oppositeside of the machine, of endless chain conveyers provided withstrip-engaging spurs, and a apted to thrust the strips into thecarriers, and guides to keep the strips in proper relation to theconveyers and said strip-carriers, the conveying and a0 thrustingmovement of the strip-conveyer being transverse, and its turningmovement being coincident with the movement of the strip-carrier.

6. In a cell-case machine, the combination 65 with an endless gang ofstrip-carriers, of

transversely arrangedendless chain conveyers adapted to thrustindividual strips into said carriers, sprockets therefor, and interposedintermittent, continuously revolving feed-rolls concentric with thesprockets at the receiving terminus of the chains adapted to seize thestrips as severed from the parent sheet and deliver them forwardly onsaid conveyers.

7. In a cell-case machine, the combination of an endless chain gang ofstrip-carriers, transversely arranged external, endless chainstrip-conveyers adapted to thrust individual strips into thestrip-carriers, fixed guide fingers in proximity to said conveyers andadapted to receive the strip-blank as fed forward preliminary to cuttingofi and to hold it in proper entering position near the carrier, meansadapted to eject the strip from said fingers and intermittent feedmechanism-adapted to forward the strip from the cut-ofl7position anddeliver it to said conveyer.

8. In a cell-case machine, the combination of a continuously andforwardly moving gang of strip-carriers, transversely arrangedstrip-conveyers adapted to thrust individual strips into said carrierswhile so moving, and reciprocating heaters adapted to further thrust thestrips into the carriers and out of the way of the conveyers.

9. In a cell-case machine, the combination of an endless-chain gang ofstrip-carriers having continuous forward movement, similarly movingstrip-conveyers adapted to thrust the individual strips into thecarriers, and reciprocating beaters travelin at a higher rate of speed,and adapte by a swinging blow, to bottom the strip in the carrier.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ALWIN W. D. WEIS. JOSEPH STARMAN. Witnesses:

EMMAG'. Surrrcoon, J. M. ST. JOHN.

